Sunday Synopsis

All of the Above by Shelley Pearsall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Our school is using this book as a "read it forward." The librarian asked me to read it, and I begrudgingly accepted, but when I actually started reading, I zipped through it - close to 150 pages on the first day alone.

The book is an easy read for an adult, but that does not make the story any less compelling. It is based on a true story, which also makes it more appealing.

The book is narrated by several dynamic characters: James Harris III, Marcel, Rhondell, Sharice, and their math teacher Mr. Collins. There are a few other characters as well. During the course of the novel, the reader develops a connection with most of the characters and actually cares what happens to them. The author describes settings and people in such a way that the reader can easily picture what is happening. The story never becomes dull or slow.

This novel is about a group of inner-city kids and their math teacher. They are all bored with math. Even the teacher finds no more joy in it, so he asks what would make it better. They decide to have a contest in which the students at the old, crumbling schoolhouse on Washington Boulevard will attempt to create the world's largest tetrahedron and break a world record.

Along the way, individual character's personal stories are intertwined with the story of the whole group. There is some humor, some sadness, some unpredictable events. Find out whether the group is able to achieve their goal, and whether the characters can overcome their difficulties.

View all my reviews

Subscribe in a reader

Thursday Thirteen St. Pat's

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day.  Since I'm half Irish, I thought I'd collect a few facts about it.

Thursday Thirteen Play Along!

1.  Saint Patrick was born in Britain. At age 16, he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland as a slave.   He escaped 6 years later but returned to Ireland.

2.  He is Ireland's patron saint who brought Christianity to Ireland. (My daughter visited St. Patrick's Cathedral last year.)

copyright Forgetfulone

3.  Saint Patrick died on March 17 in the fifth century.  This date has been a holiday for over 1,000 years.

copyright Forgetfulone

4.  Since it occurs during Lent, St. Patrick's day was observed by first attending church then celebrating in the afternoon.  The prohibition of consuming meat was waived so celebrants could feast on traditional Irish bacon and cabbage.  Now people eat corned beef and cabbage.

5.  The shamrock, Irish clover, is associated with St. Patrick's Day because this is what he used to explain the Holy Trinity to  them.

6.  On March 17, 1762, Irish soldiers who were serving in the English army marched in New York City. This was the first St. Patrick's Day parade.

7. Since 1962, the Chicago River has been dyed green for St. Patrick's Day.

8.  Even the Coliseum in Rome is "turned" green for St. Patrick's Day.  (My daughter was there last year.)

copyright forgetfulone

9.  About 1 million people take part in St. Patrick's Day festivals in Dublin, Ireland each year.

10.  It was St. Patrick's idea to superimpose a sun onto a cross creating the Celtic Cross.  The sun was a symbol of Irish lore, so he incorporated it with the cross to make it more natural to them.

11. St. Patrick's blue was the color of St. Patrick's Day until the Irish nationalism became  more popular during the 1790's.  From then on, green has been the color associated with it.

12. The correct abbreviation for St. Patrick's Day is NOT St. Patty's.  It is St. Paddy's Day.  Patty is short for Patricia.  Paddy is short for Padraig, a variant of Patrick.

13. As for Saint Patrick banishing all the snakes from Ireland... That one is a myth.

Thanks to the History Channel for providing photos & information that helped in my research.


Subscribe in a reader

So Random and Coffee Chat

I'm linking up with Stacy Uncorked and Ink Interrupted.

So... having a conflict at work, and it is totally raining on my spring break parade.

 It pervades my thoughts and dreams, mostly thoughts.  I replay situations in my head.  It doesn't leave my mind for long before it's back.  You've probably been there before.  I would have liked to get it solved before spring break, but two of the three other people involved decided to leave instead of confronting the issue.  So, I wait. (heavy sigh)

But at least I've got my kids home for a week!

image credit

I actually watched The Bachelor this season.  I had a feeling he'd end up with Vanessa, but I really wanted him to end up with Raven. My heart broke for her. Vanessa is too strong-willed and demanding.  She's beautiful, and she has a worthy occupation, but she kind of gripes too much.  Raven is also beautiful, but she's less demanding, more playful, and loyal.  They are both confident and strong.  Oh well.  He didn't ask me to choose for him.  I hope he and Vanessa will be so very happy together.

And I'm looking forward to Rachel being the new Bachelorette.  She is from my home state, you know.  She, too, is a beautiful, smart, and confident woman.  For so long, I refused to watch these shows.  I don't normally like reality TV.  Much of it is scripted, anyway.  I got sucked in the last three or four weeks of Ben's season.  I don't know how.  But I'm hooked.

So, today would have been my dad's 82nd birthday.  He passed in October, 2004.  Not a day goes by that I don't think of him and miss him.  I'm going to try to stay busy by meeting a friend for lunch, a movie, and a trip to Hobby Lobby.

St. Patrick's Day is Friday.  Do you have plans?  I don't.  However, my grandfather, dad's dad, was born on March 17, 1898.  Pretty cool, huh? And yes, he was Irish.

I need to lose about fifteen pounds before our daughter's wedding, or 20, or more, but diets are so hard for me!    I have no willpower like I did when I was younger.  I've got 12 weeks.  But this is me...

And now, Coffee Chat

Today our hostess asks...

Where are your Lucky Charms?  

It's St. Patricks Day this week, whether you are Irish or not, 

do you have any special totems or symbols of your culture?

I don't have any lucky charms or totems, so to speak.  But I do have a pecan that my grandfather gave me once when we were walking around the property of his retirement home. Even at age 98, he liked to get out and take walks.  I've kept in all these years, and probably always will, not as a lucky charm, just as a remembrance.

I used to have a rabbit's foot (more than one) when I was younger.  It wasn't a REAL rabbit's foot, of course, but it represented it.  It was said that a rabbit's foot would bring good luck, prosperity, and success to the person carrying it.

The biggest symbol in my culture is the cross.  It is a symbol of Christ's crucifixion which happened in order to set us free from sin.   Another symbol is the ichthus, or fish.  The letters in the Greek word ichthus each represented a word:  Jesus, Christ, of God, Son, and Savior. "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and my Savior."  The ichthus was a code word and symbol used to express their convictions by those afraid of persecution. (Reference)

Image Credit

That's all for this week!

Subscribe in a reader

Sunday Synopsis

Invasion by Robin Cook
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I picked up this book because it was a bargain, and Robin Cook has a reputation as a successful writer. This is not a typical Robin Cook medical thriller, though. This is Cook's foray into science fiction. There is still a bit of medical thriller in it, but the "invasion," of course, is alien life.

The book begins in a college town with a power surge that wipes out TVs, radios, and VCR's. Remember, this was written in 1997. Cue the Twilight Zone music.  Such a cliche' beginning.

Then, an abundance of black discs start showing up. The black discs don't seem like actual rocks or even man-made items because they were sent here to infect humans with an alien virus. Beau Stark, one of the main characters, claims to be "stung" by the object. Later that day, he becomes deathly ill with a violent flu-like virus. The doctors can't cure him, yet they cannot pinpoint anything wrong, either. Hours later, he is not only cured, but full of energy and a different personality.

In fairly short order, the entire earth is being dominated by an alien life form who, of all things, care about the environment. People can communicate without speaking due to a collective consciousness, they smile all the time, and the life forms have typical "alien" characteristics such as glowing eyes, mind control, super-human strength, and eventually, blue lizard-like skin. They are also building a space station preparing for the rest of the aliens to arrive. While I was reading, I couldn't help but think of Stephanie Meyer's novel The Host, which I didn't actually enjoy.

To save the world, a group of six who have not been infected, will need to figure out exactly what the alien virus is, how to stop it, and how to prevent becoming infected.

Sounds like a bad TV movie, right? The beginning was fine, but as the novel wore on, it was difficult to get through it. The characters are never fully developed; they are more like caricatures. It was difficult to relate to  or like any of them.

The book contains scientific geek-speak that is mostly meant either to make the author look smart, or to make the reader think there is something terrible important going on that a layman can't comprehend. I don't expect science fiction to be completely feasible, but I do expect a clever plot, dynamic characters, and a compelling plot. For a bargain book, I guess I liked it, but had I paid full price, umm, not so much. Disappointing, Robin Cook. I expected more.

View all my reviews Subscribe in a reader

Oh So Random, and Coffee Chat, Too

I'm linking up with Stacy.

So.  I have a confession.  I'm sitting here watching The Bachelor:  The Women Tell All, and I'm a little ashamed of myself.  I (usually) don't watch reality TV!  I started watching The Bachelor during Ben's season.  When he chose Lauren instead of Jo-Jo, I was soooo disappointed.  So when I found out she would be the Bachelorette, I knew I would watch.  And I did.  Then Bachelor in Paradise.

image credit

 Then I found out Nick was the new Bachelor.  It's a vicious cycle.  And since I know how I am impatient, I recorded the first six episodes before I started watching.  So, now I'm all caught up.  And I CAN'T WAIT to see who he chooses!  I have loved his relationships with Vanessa, Raven, and Rachel.  Now Rachel is gone, BUT she will be the new bachelorette!  If you watch, who do you hope he chooses?  I am going to feel so heartbroken for the one he doesn't.

So.  Moving on... Less than one week until spring break, and I. Can't. Wait.  I have no specific plans except to see a couple of movies.  I'll get to see my kids who will be home from college.  I will gt to sleep as late as I want.  That's the most important thing! Hahaha!  No, of course the kids are, but sleep is a close second.

My house has a big hole in the kitchen roof.  Our upstairs shower leaked and we had to get the rotten sheetrock off the celing.  Trouble is, we don't know if we want to put the time and money into remodeling now, or just put a "bandaid" on it for now and remodel later.  It's a tough decision.  We may only be in this house for two or three more years.  When all the kids are living on their own, we won't need all the space.

And now, Coffee Chat.  Our hostess asks us...

Who do you miss?

Easily, without a single doubt in my mind, my father.  I don't want to go into details because I have written about him and what happened several times.  You can read about it here or here.  This is a picture of me with my dad peeking out behind me.  It was taken in 1986, I think.  I was 21.  He was the age I am now, 51.

My dad passed away unexpectedly in 2004.  He wasn't sick.  It was medically related, not an accident, but he was the picture of health one minute, and gong the next.

He was my hero and my rescuer.  I loved him so much.  Still do.  I don't think I have gone through all of the stages of grief.  I function better by being in denial.  I'm just afraid that one day it is going to hit me so hard, I may end up in the crazy house.  I miss him every single day.

  Subscribe in a reader